Dear Mark,

I love dogs. I also love books. Your book was therefore irresistable. Youe book confirmed that my tear glands were properly functioning. We lost our Vixen, a mini schnouzer on December 31, 2007. She was two weeks shy of her 9th birthday. We got her from the breeder when she was seven weeks old. Her breed is notorious for being snippy. She was not. The sweetest dog you can imagine. I could identify with each and every emotion you described about how you feel about our dogs. When we got her, she seemed to be an icon of health full of energy. We learned from our vet that the breed is often suffering from crystals in their urine. Many members of the breed can live a full life before the problem surfaces. Read the rest of this entry »

On February 8, 1988, King Solomon’s Rebel
passed away quietly in the arms of Dallas Ray.
The grief and the sadness are nearly unbearable.

Amid the tears, I gently laid him in the white
pine coffin we made for him. We held hands as
we looked upon this angel for the “last time here”.

It is worth remembering that I said that the
“overpowering voice of love” from this small
voiceless creature was stilled by the hand of God.

Surely there is a reason. With all the
certainty that there is a God and a Heaven,
we, (His only family), Shall see him again.

He started life at 604 Tomahawk Circle,
in the arms of Dallas Ray. During the thirteen
years of His life here, He brought untold love
to this Family.

Jackie, Dallas Ray and I never questioned that Love.
He told us He loved us in so many ways. We told
Him every day that we Loved Him.

We buried Him there on the hillside in the yard.
It is a place where He laid to watch Jackie as
She worked in the yard, and where He always
Ran to greet us when we returned home.

It is the pinnacle of His Domain. It seems
fitting that His earthly remains rest
there under the pines where nearly all of
His territory can be seen.

We know that some looked upon him
and saw only a Basenji Puppy. We
know Him as our family.

There can be no greater legacy than LOVE.
The wealth He left us is, therefore, unmatched
because “LOVE IS FOREVER”. We will Love
Him Forever.

Through all the emptiness, the tears and the
sadness of His passing, He will ultimately live
in all of His Regal Splendor in our memories.
So Rest, Sweet Baby, with the Knowledge
that we will “Love You Forever”.

Bo, Jackie and Dallas Ray from AL

I first heard about Rescuing Sprite early in December ’07 and immediately purchased a copy. Shortly after that in the days before Christmas, my little dachshund, Belle, started to walk strangely. Within just a few days, she was paralyzed in her hind legs, and in a lot of pain from degenerative disc disease. By New Years Eve, she never improved and through my vet’s guidance, we made the decision to let her go peacefully.

I really think it was a blessing that I found this book before Belle became sick. I credit it in assisting me deal with Bell’s ailments, and it’s helping me cope after her passing. I constantly thought of Mark, and how he dealt with the emotional pain and anguish, he faces in losing his Spritey.

I have since given four of your books to my friends and family. One of these friends has an older dog with arthritis and the dog has his good and bad days similar to Sprite. Since Rescuing Sprite helped me cope, I have given him your book in hopes that it will help him as it did me.

Mark, thank you for such an amazing book. I know Sprite is missed, but it is amazing how many people he touches in his after-years.

Preston from  TX

The first time I saw Lola she was in a little crate that was full of what look like muddy water. she looked to be dark brown with stiff fur sticking out everywhere. As it turns out some boys had been urinating on her and her wiskers had been burned off. I opened the crate took her out she was sumissive and quiet kind of like she just didn’t care like she had just given up. She smelled so bad I had to wrap her up in a towel so my friend could hold her on the drive home. Once arriving home I was shocked to find out after a bath that Lola was she was white with dark patches covering her eyes. and her stiff fur was as soft as a kittens, She was the cutest little thing I had ever seen. She however seemed so sad and wouldn’t eat or drink any thing. The next day I took her to the vet I was told she was about 4 weeks old. I was told to just try to get her to eat by giving her soft food. Through out that day and the next I was on a continueous search for something Lola would eat or dink to without success. Staying in constant contact with the vet going back getting special food and milk from them still nothing work . Then lola starting vomiting when she wasn’t asleep she would dry heave. When she tried to have a bowel movement what little happened had blood in it. I was back on the phone with the vet she said “look you did a good thing by trying to help her but I thinnk the best thing would be to end her suffering”. As I readied her and myself to take her there my best friend starting crying and said isn’t there something else we can do? For some reason I thought I’d try what they give babies with stomach flus. So I got a childs medicine syringe filled it with Pedilite and sat down for a little battle with Lola. You see Lola didn’t want to eat or drink so I would have to hold her little face and force the Pedilite down her throat and she fought it all the way. Every hour I’d force a few more milligrams down her. The following day she actually seemed a little better the day after that she was running and playing. Lola and I have been together every since through a heart breaking divorce. Through a new home in a new town through lots of changes. Lola herself changed the dark patches covering her eyes lighten and moved to her ears, her fur grew long, her tail curls up with long fur cascading like a water fall. When she excited she dosen’t walk she prances. She’s a soft 32 pound mushey teddy bear and I love hugging her. She has earned the name Lola the licker and her caption on my space (yes she does)claims “I can’t hold my licker”! She’s my Loyal Lola and where ever I am she is. I used to think people who loved their dog like a child were nuts. Now I’m one of those nuts. I say if I could’ve given birht to a dog it would be Lola. This March Lola will be three and I expect she will have many, many more birthdays to come.

Kayce from GA

Dear Mark,

I just finished your book. I filled three handkerchiefs with tears. It brought back so many memories of my dog Amber, a 13 yr, old greyhound that we rescued twelve years ago. She was also the most loving and kindest dog I have ever known. She loved everyone and every animal she encountered. I am so lucky to have known her and loved her and had her in my life. My wife and I had to make the decision to end her life and say goodbye to her a year ago.

Your book brought back the sadness I felt on the day she went to sleep for the last time and the sadness leading up to that day. More importantly it brought back the memories of her and the love I felt for her. Even after a year it hurts like hell that she’s gone and I don’t see her face when I come in the back door or hear her nails on the floor as she runs out to greet me. Your book helped me to remember the unconditional love I received from this dog and how lucky I was and how lucky I am to have had her in my life.

I’ve never listened to your show. In fact we are probably pretty much at opposite ends of the political spectrum. But I feel we have a common experience with our dogs and have shared experiences that transcend politics. A big liberal hug to you and yours.

Thanks for the book,

Larry from CA

I am a the director for our animal control facility. I purchased two of the Rescuing Sprite for two employees. After reading the book I had to let you know some things. I have two dogs and two cats of my own. Very much an animal lover. I was transferred to Animal Control two years ago to fix things and design a new facility. I had no idea how difficult the animal control officers job was till then. Had worked on the road with them and was glad that they dealt with the animals. What I enjoyed about your book was the kudos that you gave for these officers that deal with the day to day hardships in working in a shelter. It takes a special type of person to be able to enforce the laws, care for/feed the ones in the shelter and then when necessary euthanize them. My hat is off to all those that have that assignment. Even when I am reassigned back to patrol (or where ever next) I will take what I learned from these special officers with me. I cried and had to put the book down when sprite “walked that rainbow” and feel for you and yours. Thanks for sharing your story with all and keep us up to date on your new addition.

Brenda from GA